Diversity Comes From God, And In Christ We Can Find Unity

October 16, 2004

Q. Christians seem to keep talking past each other. Conservative Christians are consumed with abortion, pornography, homosexuality, evolution and school prayer. And liberal Christians are consumed with racism, sexism, poverty, the environment and government social programs. How do we get both sides to listen? -- J. D., Davie

A. Only in Christ can you find unity in diversity. The Lord's objective was not to make everyone the same, but to give us the common goal of our salvation and the mutual principles of the Word to live by.

The diversity is, in fact, from God: "There are different kinds of gifts; but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve; but all these ways are from the same Lord. And there are different ways that God works in people; but all these ways are from the same God. God works in us all in everything we do" (I Corinthians 12:4-6).

Liberal or conservative views should not separate those in the body of Christ. Whether the issue is abortion or racism, the approach should still manifest the same Spirit: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

The way we stay on the same page in spite of our differences is to "look only to Jesus. He is the one who began our faith, and he makes our faith perfect" (Hebrews 12:2).

The Rev. Bob Coy is senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale.